Dear Doctor,


Recently I read about how rabies can incubate silently in animals and humans. Particularly that it can incubate in humans for years. This has turned into an Obsessive Compulsive issue for me.


6 months ago, I encountered a feral street cat that I approached and petted. The cat showed no signs of resistance, had a relaxed body language and was affectionate. I just keep worrying it was somehow carrying the virus and I may have caught it. Whilst this is most probably just anxiety, I feel like the fatality of the disease keeps me taking this matter seriously.


What worries me is as follows:


1) After petting with my hand, I proceeded to scratch an itchy eye lid with the back of my hand avoiding my fingers/palm that contacted the cat. My palm my have had eye fluids and saliva traces so I am worried that my palm was contaminated and the virus somehow made it to my eye or nose. Also if it did, can it last for a long time?


2) Is there any form of lab test I can do to identify whether I am carrying the virus whilst incubating? It may put this ridiculous problem at rest for me.


I have already consulted with Dr Deepu but I forgot to ask the follow up question. A second opinion would probably help me as well.


Thanks and regards.